Supporting arrangement for vessels used in metallurgical processing involving heat

ABSTRACT

A supporting arrangement for vessels, such as steelmill converters, used in metallurgical processing involving heat, includes a supporting ring surrounding the vessel and supporting the vessel through the medium of support elements secured on the vessel wall and which extend radially from the vessel sidewall in angularly spaced relation therearound. A corresponding number of supports are provided on the supporting ring in only two opposed arcuate zones of the ring. Each support receives a respective support element and provides for movement of the associated support element both radially of the supporting ring and angularly relative to a radius of the ring or the axis of the vessel. The supports also accommodate twisting of the support element about its longitudinal centerline or axis. Additional stop means may be provided to limit relative tilting of the vessel and the supporting ring during tilting of the vessel.

llnited States Patent Karl-Heinz Mahringer Duisburg-Hamborn;

Karl-Heinz Langlitz. Mulheim (Ruhr), both of, Germany [72] lnventors [54] SUPPORTING ARRANGEMENT FUR VESSELS USED IN METALLUQGECAL PROQESSHNG 985,227 2/1911 Thompson et al. 266/39 3,000,621 9/1961 Puxkandl 266/36 (P) X 3,163,696 12/1964 Johansson et al. 266/36 (P) 3,239,206 3/1966 Puxkandl 266/36 (P) 3,288,453 11/1966 Buesing et al.. 266/36 (P) 3,337,205 8/1967 Puxkandl 266/39 X Primary Examiner-J. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner-John S. Brown Attorney-McGlew and Toren ABSTRACT: A supporting arrangement for vessels, such as steelmill converters, used in metallurgical processing involving heat, includes a supporting ring surrounding the vessel and supporting the vessel through the medium of support elements secured on the vessel wall and which extend radially from the vessel sidewall in angularly spaced relation therearound. A corresponding number of supports are provided on the supporting ring in only two opposed arcuate zones of the ring. Each support receives a respective support element and provides for movement of the associated support element both radially of the supporting ring and angularly relative to a radius of the ring or the axis of the vessel. The supports also accommodate twisting of the support element about its longitudinal centerline or axis. Additional stop means may be provided to limit relative tilting of the vessel and the supporting ring during tilting of the vessel.

PATENTED AUB24|97| 3, 01,3 3

FIG.5

|5 INVENTORS 2 KARL-HEINZ MAHRINGER BY KARLHEINZ LANGLITZ FIG.3 //%%MM ATTORNEYS SUPPORTING ARRANGEMENT FOR VESSELS USED IN METALLURGICAL PROCESSING INVOLVING HEAT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Vessels, such as tiltable and/or revolvable steelmill converters, used in metallurgical processing involving heat, require a safe support at their tilting points. The still unsolved problem of providing such a safe support relates less to the supporting capacity of the support elements than to other factors, as the support elements have sufficient strength to perform their function. The point of difficulty arises at the bearing or bearings between the vessel and a surrounding supporting ring.

The design of a metallurgical vessel requires the joining of a ceramic brickwork layer to a steel wall of great strength surrounding the brickwork layer. The supporting element s proper are so-called claws, which are angle pieces secured rigidly on the steel wall and which bear, without a great expenditure related to the state of technology, on the end or axial surfaces of the supporting ring.

An essential characteristic of a metallurgical operation involving heat is the thermal stress of the brickwork and of the steel shell, as compared to the cooler temperature range of the supporting ring. A heat gradient thus is formed between the interior surface of the brickwork and the exterior surface of the steel shell. Another factor is the tilting capacity of the vessel, whichcauses alternating stress conditions both on the steel wall of the vessel and on the supporting claws.

In a vertically oriented vessel assembly, the overall center of gravity is generally below the supporting ring. The corresponding stress below the plane of the upper axial surface of the supporting ring is thus a substantially tensile stress in-the steel wall of the vessel. However, the thermal stress, as well as radial forces appearing in the course of operation from the brickwork, are superposed on the tensile stress. Although the center of gravity is displaced in the horizontal orientation of the vessel axis, the stress is not reduced in certain zones of the steel wall. In addition, there is some uncertainty of the local thermal stresses, because the wear of the brickwork lining progresses irregularly during the course of the metallurgical operation. In some cases, heating of the steel wall to a red heat is not impossible. The steel worker speaks then of the red cheek which can lead, because of its dangerous character, to a rupture of the steel wall.

The fastening or hearing points of the claws can be determined only inadequately on the basis of the anticipated wear of the brickwork lining. The total weight of the brickwork lining, steel wall and claws requires a uniform load distribution in order to avoid stress peaks. The actual position of the claws imposes alternating bending and/or torional stresses on the claws. The uncertainty of the behavior of the steel wall is transferred or transmitted to the behavior of the supporting claws. These latter neither follow a calculable path of motion nor do they expand only radially. Calculations must be made to a great extent with respect to an oblique position of all three space axes, as is the case in practice.

A hitherto unrecognized result is, nevertheless, of considerable importance for the support of the vessel on its supporting ring. If the distortion of each individual claw cannot be predicted, and even varies in the course of the operating period or cycle, it is impossible that a safe portion of the load can be assigned to each supporting claw. After starting of the metallurgical operation, the initial state, determined on a cold basis, will be obviated. Each individual claw undergoes either relief or additional stress. A relieved claw does not fulfill its purpose. Each claw of a multiclaw system, however, can hardly be designed for a greater load if the vessel is to be produced in an economically justifiable manner.

The present state of technology includes, in addition to the multiclaw system with its disadvantages as just described, also statically determined solutions. For example, such a solution is disclosed with respect to a three-claw support in Fuxkandl U.S. Pat. No. 3,239,206. In the arrangement shown in this patent, two circular journals form an axis to which the axis of the third journal extends perpendicularly. The pair of journals is not in a radial plane. The principle of a heat expansion starting spherically from a single point cannot be satisfied, and a twisting distortion movement of a single claw leads to an increase stress in the supporting ring.

This known arrangement of a three-claw support does not take into consideration the independent twisting possibility of a single claw as well as the principal expansion processes. In this respect, the known solution presents difficulties of a special type, because the supporting ring cannot be a closed ring but has the form of a horseshoe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the support of vessels used in metallurgical processing involving heat and, more particularly, to a novel and improved supporting arrangement for v such vessels.

In accordance with the present invention, a supporting arrangement for vessels used in metallurgical processing involving heat is provided in which the above-described disadvantages of prior art arrangements are eliminated. A vessel support is provided whose behavior does not change substantially during the operating period. This permits a reliable determination of the percentage claw loadings.

In accordance with the invention, the vessel is supported in only two opposed circular zones each extending less than on the the circumference of the supporting ring, by means of claws movable radially of the supporting ring and movable angularly relative to a radius of the ring or relative to the axis of the vessel. The claws also can twist about their longitudinal centerlines or axes. An essential feature of the invention is the combination of a statically determined bearing with the expansion possibilities and twisting possibilities of the claws. It has been found that the load, which is distributed over the two opposite circular arcuate zones of the ring, can be determined reliably. In a three-claw support, two claws, for example, can thus be moved closer together and can be interconnected with each other by a common frame.

ln addition to the statical determinationof the three-point support, the free mobility of the claws permits further a free expansion of the vessel. The predetermined portions of the load carried by each individual claw are maintained during the entire operating cycle or period.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, each individual claw bears on the supporting ring in a manner such that it is displaceable parallel to a radius of the latter, and bears in an axial bore in an inner receiver element having a I spherical external surface mating with a spherical internal surface of a second receiver element, the inner and outer receiver elements conjointly forming a ball and socket joint. The invention is thus based on the principle of giving the thermal stresses free play, that is, it permits, to a great extent, any displacement movement of a claw. By so doing, reaction to any thermal stress appearing on the vessel wall is prevented. In particular, it is possible to absorb simultaneously radial movements of the claw and movements taking place in other planes.

In the case where only two individual claws are arranged opposite each other on the vessel and engage the supporting ring, an additional claw, serving as a tipping moment support, is provided in engagement with the opposite axial end surface of the ring and serves to absorb radial forces. While, in a threepoint support, the load of the vessel is divided into three equal .or unequal parts, the arrangement just-mentioned provides for distributing the load over only two circular arcuate support zones of the ring when the axis of the vessel is vertically oriented. A construction of this type is designed, to a certain extent, similar to the design of a girder mounted on two supports. For a horizontal orientation of the vessel, the additional tipping moment support is provided, and this can assume a part of the load in even a slightly inclined position of the vessel. In two-point and three-point supports, there is an uncertainty factor relative to the distribution of the individual loading, and the quantities contained in the calculation can thus be presumed over the entire operating period.

With the support arrangements thus far described, it is at least partly expedient to provide claws engaging the lower axial end surface of the supporting ring for a vertical orientation of the vessel in a headdown position. Such additional sets of claws can be omitted in accordance with another feature of the invention by arranging the claw receivers or supports in recesses in the supporting ring and locking the supports in these recesses.

An embodiment according to the invention provides the supports or receivers on one axial end face of the supporting ring. In particular for those types of vessels which are interchangeable, a rapid detachment of the vessel from the supporting ring accelerates the disassembly process.

The support arrangement of the invention is suitable overall for providing, starting from a single radial plane through the vessel, a heat expansion in both an axial direction and a radial direction. Individual movements of the claws are thus determined in the same manner as the overall expansion of the vessel as such. The total expansion of the vessel originates from the normal heat expansion, while individual claws can move to accommodate displacements of the vessels caused by localized overheated wall zones.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved supporting arrangement for vessels used in metallurgical processing involving heat.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a supporting arrangement in which the vessel is supported by claws engaging supports on only two opposite circular arcuate zones of a supporting ring surrounding the vessel, with these supports providing for displacement or movement of the claws or support elements both radially of the supporting ring and angularly.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a supporting arrangement which can accommodate overall expansion of the vessel due to heating thereof as well as localized expansion due to heating.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a supporting arrangement by means of which vessels may be readily dismounted from the supporting ring and readily remounted therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a supporting arrangement which is simple, economical, practical and has a constant behavior throughout an operating cycle.

Yet, another object of the invention is to provide such a supporting arrangement providing for the maintaining constant, throughout an operating cycle, of the load distribution on the individual claws.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of typical embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diametric sectional view through the main axis of a converter vessel mounted on the supporting arrangement of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial side elevation view, partly in section, of a claw support in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2a is an exploded perspective view of a claw, a claw receiver and a portion of the supporting ring;

FIG. 3 is a view, similar to FIG. 1, but with a two-point support instead of a three-point support;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view corresponding to FIG. 3, with the vessel shown in a horizontal orientation; and

FIG. 5 is a view, similar to FIG. 2, of a modified claw support embodying the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, a vessel used in metallurgical processing involving heat, such as a tiltable and/or revolvable steelmill converter, is illustrated at 1 as supported through the medium of three support elements or claws on a supporting ring 3 surrounding vessel 1. Claws 2 are engaged in claw sup ports 4, embodying the invention, mounted on the upper and lower axial end surfaces of supporting ring 3, there being one support 4 for each claw 2. Each support 4 comprises guides 5 and 6 extending parallel to a radius of ring 3 and a two-part claw receiver 7 disposed between guide walls 5 and 6.

Claw supports 4 are shown to a larger scale in FIG. 2, which is a view from the exterior looking perpendicularly toward a claw 2. It will be noted that claws 2 are provided both above and below supporting ring 3, and each restsin a special spherical inner receiver element 8 whose outer spherical configuration is guided in a spherical manner in a correspondingly spherically formed outer receiver element 9. Each claw 2 can thus move radially within the guides 5 and 6, and also perform any angular movement inside the spherical receiver elements 8 and 9. It will be understood that radial guides 5 and 6 can also be provided with guide bars welded or otherwise secured on the axial end surfaces 10 of supporting ring 3.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which vessel 1 is supported on ring 3 through the medium of only two claws 2. In this case, the supports 4 on ring 3 are the same as the supports 4 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

If, as shown in FIG. 4, the inner and outer spherical receiver elements 8 and 9 are assembled inside of housing 11 on supporting ring 3, and these housings 11 are provided only on the upper axial end surface of ring 3 and not on the lower axial end surface, a tipping moment support 12 secured on vessel 1 provides restraint during swinging of the vessel about axis 15. Through the medium of strips or shims 13, tipping moment support 12 beats on projections 14 extending from the lower axial end surface of supporting ring 3. The axis 15 is essentially the center line or axis of the two claws 2 shown in FIG. 3.

In all embodiments of the invention, it is also possible to arrange the claw receiver 7, comprising the spherical inner and outer receiver elements 8 and 9, inside supporting ring 3, as shown in FIG. 5. For this purpose, ring 3 is formed with recesses 16 each of which receives a spherical receiver 9 for displacement radially of the ring and corresponding, in function, with the guides 5 and 6 extending parallel to the radius of ring 3. Inner spherical receiver elements 8, which engage claws 2, are disposed within outer spherical receiver elements 9. In order to assure a rapid assembly and disassembly of the vessel 1 relative to the supporting ring 3, a cover l7 closes each recess 16 so that the journals 2 of vessel 1 are, for all practical purposes, locked. Vessel 1 can expand both radially and axially but is fixed relative to supporting ring 3.

In the foregoing description, it will be understood that the embodiments are represented only in somewhat schematic form, and that practical measures must be applied in carrying the invention into practice, whether the embodiments concern a sliding support or a spherical support.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A supporting arrangement for vessels used in metallurgi- 'cal processing involving heat, such as tiltable, revolvable and tiltable, and revolvable steelmill converters, of the type in which the vessel in a supporting ring, completely surrounding the vessel, through the medium of support elements secured on the vessel wall, said supporting arrangement comprising, in combination, support elements extending radially from the vessel sidewall in angularly spaced relation to each other; and a corresponding number of supports on said supporting ring in only two opposite circular arcuate zones of said ring, each zone having an arcuate extent of less than each support including a ball and socket joint receiver receiving'a respective support element and mounting the associated support element for movement radially of the supporting ring, each receiver accommodating angular movement of the associated support element relative to a radius of the ring and the axis of the vessel, and providing for twisting of the associated support element about its longitudinal center line.

2. A supporting arrangement for vessels used in metallurgical processing involving heat, such as tiltable, revolvable and tiltable, and revolvable steelmill converters, of the type in comprising, in combination, support elements extending radiwhich the vessel is supported in a supporting ring, completely surrounding the vessel, through the medium of support elements secured on the vessel wall, said supporting arrangement comprising, in, combination, support elements extending radially from the vessel sidewall in angularly spaced relation to each other; and a corresponding number of supports on said supporting ring in only two opposite circular arcuate zones of said ring; each support receiving a respective support element and providing for movement of the associated support element both radially of the supporting ring and angularly relative to aradius of the ring and the axis of the vessel, and further accommodating twisting of the associated support element about its longitudinal centerline; each support comprising a receiver slidably displaceable parallel to a radius of said supporting ring and receiving the associated support element. 3. A supporting arrangement for vessels used in metallurgical processing involving heat, such as tiltable, revolvable and tiltable, and revolvable steelmill converters, of the type in which the vessel is supported in a supporting ring, completely surrounding the vessel, through the medium of support elements secured on the vessel wall, said supporting arrangement comprising, in combination, support elements extending radially from the vessel sidewall in angularly spaced relation to each other; and a corresponding number of supports on said supporting ring in only two opposite circular arcuate zones of said ring; each support receiving a respective support element and providing for movement of the associated support element both radially of the supporting ring, and angularly relative to a radius of the ring and the axis of the vessel, and further accommodating twisting of the associated support element about its longitudinal centerline; there being two support elements arranged at opposite ends of a diameter of the vessel and each engaged in a respective support of the supporting ring; said supports being positioned on the same axial end surface of the supporting ring; said vessel and the supporting ring being pivotal about an axis extending along a diameter of the supporting ring and parallel to the mentioned diameter of said vessel; and interengaging means on said vessel and on the opposite axial end surface of the supporting ring serving as a tipping moment support absorbing radial forces during pivoting of the vessel and the ring about said pivotal axis.

4. A supporting arrangement for vessels used in metallurgical processing involving heat, such as tiltable, revolvable and tiltable, and revolvable steelmill converters, of the type in which the vessel is supported in a supporting ring, completely surrounding the vessel, through the medium of support elements secured on the vesselwall, said supporting arrangement ally from the vessel sidewall in angularly spaced relation to each other; and a corresponding number of supports on said supporting ring in only two opposite circular arcuate zones of said ring; each support receiving a respective support element and providing for movement of the associated support element both radially of the supporting ring and angularly relative to a radius of the ring and the axis of the vessel, and further accommodating twisting of the associated support element about its longitudinal centerline; each of said supports being positioned in a recess within the supporting ring, and each support being disposed in its recess intermediate the opposite axial end faces of said ring; and disengageable means locking each support in its associated recess.

5. A supporting arrangement for vessels used in metallurgic al rocessing involving heat such as tiltable, revolvable and tilta 1e, and revolvable steelmill converters, of the type in which the vessel is supported in a supporting ring, completely surrounding the vessel, through the medium of support elements secured on the vessel wall, said supporting arrangement comprising, in combination, support elements extending radially from the vessel sidewall in angularly spaced relation to each other; and a corresponding number of supports on said supporting ring in only two opposite circular arcuate zones of said ring; each support receiving a respective support element and providing for movement of the associated support element both radially of the supporting ring and angularly relative to a radius of the ring and the axis of the vessel, and further accommodating twisting of the associated support element about is longitudinal centerline; said supports being arranged on both opposite axial end surfaces of said supporting ring.

6. A supporting arrangement for vessels used in metallurgical processing involving heat, as claimed in claim 2, in which each receiver comprises inner and outer receiver elements, one embracing the other; each support comprising guide surfaces engaging the outer receiver element for displacement of the latter parallel to a radius of the vessel, the inner receiver element having the associated support element engaged therewith; the interengaging surfaces of said inner and outer receiver elements being concentric spherical surfaces.

7. A supporting arrangement for vessels used in metallurgical processing involving heat, as claimed in claim 3, in which said interengaging means comprises a pair of clrcumferentially spaced projections on the supporting ring, a further support element secured to said vessel and extending between said projections, and spacer elements inserted between opposite sides of said further support element and said projections.

8. A supporting arrangement for vessels used in metallurgical processing involving heat, as claimed in claim 1, in which each of said supports is positioned in a recess within the supporting ring.

9. A supporting arrangement for vessels used in metallurgical processing involving heat, as claimed in claim 1, in which said supports are arranged on at least one axial end face of said supporting ring. 

1. A supporting arrangement for vessels used in metallurgical processing involving heat, such as tiltable, revolvable and tiltable, and revolvable steelmill converters, of the type in which the vessel in a supporting ring, completely surrounding the vessel, through the medium of support elements secured on the vessel wall, said supporting arrangement comprising, in combination, support elements extending radially from the vessel sidewall in angularly spaced relation to each other; and a corresponding number of supports on said supporting ring in only two opposite circular arcuate zones of said ring, each zone having an arcuate extent of less than 180*; each support including a ball and socket joint receiver receiving a respective support element and mounting the associated support element for movement radially of the supporting ring, each receiver accommodating angular movement of the associated support element relative to a radius of the ring and the axis of the vessel, and providing for twisting of the associated support element about its longitudinal center line.
 2. A supporting arrangement for vessels used in metallurgical processing involving heat, such as tiltable, revolvable and tiltable, and revolvable steelmill converters, of the type in which the vessel is supported in a supporting ring, completely surrounding the vessel, through the medium of support elements secured on the vessel wall, said supporting arrangement comprising, in combination, support elements extending radially from the vessel sidewall in angularly spaced relation to each other; and a corresponding number of supports on said supporting ring in only two opposite circular arcuate zones of said ring; each support receiving a respective support element and providing for movement of the associated support element both radially of the supporting ring and angularly relative to a radius of the ring and the axis of the vessel, and further accommodating twisting of the associated support element about its longitudinal centerline; each support comprising a receiver slidably displaceable parallel to a radius of said supporting ring and receiving the associated support element.
 3. A supporting arrangement for vessels used in metallurgical processing involving heat, such as tiltable, revolvable and tiltable, and revolvable steelmill converters, of the type in which the vessel is supported in a supporting ring, completely surrounding the vessel, through the medium of support elements secured on the vessel wall, said supporting arrangement comprising, in combination, support elements extending radially from the vessel sidewall in angularly spaced relation to each other; and a corresponding number of supports on said supporting ring in only two opposite circular arcuate zones of said ring; each support receiving a respective support element and providing for movement of the associated support element both radially of the supporting ring, and angularly relative to a radius of the ring and the axis of the vessel, and further accommodating twisting of the associated support element about its longitudinal centerline; there being two support elements arranged at opposite ends of a diameter of the vessel and each engaged in a respective support of the supporting ring; said supports being positioned on the same axial end surface of the supporting ring; said vessel and the supporting ring being pivotal about an axis extending along a diameter of the supporting ring and parallel to the mentioned diameter of said vessel; and interengaging means on said vessel and on the opposite axial end surface of the supporting ring serving as a tipping moment support absorbing radial forces during pivoting of the vessel and the ring about said pivotal axis.
 4. A supporting arrangement for vessels used in metallurgical processing involving heat, such as tiltable, revolvable and tiltable, and revolvable steelmill converters, of the type in which the vessel is supported in a supporting ring, completely surrounding the vessel, through the medium of support elements secured on the vessel wall, said supporting arrangement comprising, in combination, support elements extending radially from the vessel sidewall in angularly spaced relation to each other; and a corresponding number of supports on said supporting ring in only two opposite circular arcuate zones of said ring; each support receiving a respective support element and providing for movement of the associated support element both radially of the supporting ring and angularly relative to a radius of the ring and the axis of the vessel, and further accommodating twisting of the associated support element about its longitudinal centerline; each of said supports being positioned in a recess within the supporting ring, and each support being disposed in its recess intermediate the opposite axial end faces of said ring; and disengageable means locking each support in its associated recess.
 5. A supporting arrangement for vessels used in metallurgical processing involving heat, such as tiltable, revolvable and tiltable, and revolvable steelmill converters, of the type in which the vessel is supported in a supporting ring, completely surrounding the vessel, through the medium of support elements secured on the vessel wall, said supporting arrangement comprising, in combination, support elements extending radially from the vessel sidewall in angularly spaced relation to each other; and a corresponding number of supports on said supporting ring in only two opposite circular arcuate zones of said ring; each support receiving a respective support element and providing for movement of the associated support element both radially of the supporting ring and angularly relative to a radius of the ring and the axis of the vessel, and further accommodating twisting of the associated support element about is longitudinal centerline; said supports being arranged on both opposite axial end surfaces of said supporting ring.
 6. A supporting arrangement for vessels used in metallurgical processing involving heat, as claimed in claim 2, in which each receiver comprises inner and outer receiver elements, one embracing the other; each support comprising guide surfaces engaging the outer receiver element for displacement of the latter parallel to a radius of the vessel, the inner receiver element having the associated support element eNgaged therewith; the interengaging surfaces of said inner and outer receiver elements being concentric spherical surfaces.
 7. A supporting arrangement for vessels used in metallurgical processing involving heat, as claimed in claim 3, in which said interengaging means comprises a pair of circumferentially spaced projections on the supporting ring, a further support element secured to said vessel and extending between said projections, and spacer elements inserted between opposite sides of said further support element and said projections.
 8. A supporting arrangement for vessels used in metallurgical processing involving heat, as claimed in claim 1, in which each of said supports is positioned in a recess within the supporting ring.
 9. A supporting arrangement for vessels used in metallurgical processing involving heat, as claimed in claim 1, in which said supports are arranged on at least one axial end face of said supporting ring. 